Telescopes
200/1000 mm Newtonian (8″ f/5)
This is my main deep-sky telescope. The fast f/5 optics collect a lot of light quickly, making it great for galaxies and many nebulae. With the right accessories, it delivers sharp, detailed images.
Sky-Watcher Evostar AP 72/420 (72ED / 72 ED DS Pro OTA)
A compact apochromatic refractor with a wide field of view and very clean stars. I use it for larger nebulae, big star fields, and wide compositions.
50/90 mm Guide / Finder Scope
This small scope is mainly used for autoguiding. It tracks a guide star so my mount can correct tiny tracking errors during long exposures.
Skywatcher StarQuest Maksutov (Mak / Maksutov-type telescope)
A compact catadioptric telescope that uses a corrector lens and mirrors to deliver a long focal length in a small tube. I use it for higher-magnification targets (like the Moon, planets, and smaller deep-sky objects) where extra focal length helps.
Cameras
ToupTek 183CA (color astronomy camera)
A dedicated color camera I use for deep-sky imaging when I want a simple one-shot-color workflow while still keeping good sensitivity.
ToupTek 327C Mini (guide camera)
A small and reliable camera used for guiding. It works together with my guide scope to keep stars round and tracking precise.
Nikon D3200 DSLR
My DSLR is perfect for wide-field astrophotography, especially with lenses. It’s a flexible option for travel and quick setups.
ToupTek cooled DSO camera + motorized filter wheel (AFW)
My cooled deep-sky imaging setup for low-noise data and filter-based imaging. Cooling helps reduce sensor noise, especially on longer exposures.
Filters
LRGB filter set (1.25″)
Used for true-color imaging with a mono camera: luminance captures fine detail, while red/green/blue create natural-looking color.
SHO narrowband filter set (1.25″)
Ideal for emission nebulae and imaging under light pollution. SHO (SII/Ha/OIII) reveals structure and contrast that broadband filters can’t.
Hα + OIII dualband filter
A very practical filter for boosting nebula contrast—especially helpful with color cameras and for brighter emission targets.
IR filter (IR-only / no-filter options)
Used depending on the camera setup and the goal of the session.
Mounts & Tracking
SkyWatcher EQ5 Pro (equatorial mount)
My main tracking mount for long-exposure astrophotography. It supports guiding and automation for complete imaging sessions.
SkyWatcher Discovery Alt-Az mount
A simple alt-azimuth mount I mainly use for visual observing and quick astronomy sessions.
Focus & Optics Accessories
TS 2″ Newtonian Coma Corrector
Newtonians can show coma (stretched stars) near the edges of the frame. This corrector helps keep stars tighter and cleaner across the image.
Motor focuser (testing / in progress)
I’m working on adding motorized focusing for consistent autofocus during imaging sessions.
Power
100Ah 12V lead-acid battery
A strong field power source for running the setup away from mains power.
100Ah 12V LiFePO4 battery
Lightweight, stable, and excellent usable capacity—great for portable astrophotography nights.
Software I Use
KStars / Ekos
My main astronomy control center (planetarium + imaging suite). I use it for mount/camera control, polar alignment tools, plate solving, guiding integration, and automated capture with the Scheduler.
PHD2 Guiding
Guiding software that tracks a star and sends small corrections to the mount to keep exposures sharp.
N.I.N.A.
A powerful capture and automation tool for Windows, useful for advanced sequencing and imaging workflows.
Siril
For calibration, stacking, and processing astrophotography data—great for turning raw frames into a finished image.
GIMP
For final edits: color grading, contrast adjustments, star control, and polishing the final result.